Archive for January, 2009

Brandon Spikes Earns Defensive Player Of The Year

Posted by admin on January 24th, 2009   No Comment

By: Brandon
admin@gatorsportsnation.com

Gator linebacker Brandon Spikes was named the 2009 Chevrolet defensive player of the year. Spikes has put hard work and dedication to this football team and I could not see how he could of missed out on this award. Spikes is almost one of a kind and no doubt he deserves this trophy.

Spikes had 93 tackles, 52 out of the 93 were solo tackles, and he managed to win a second National championship as a Gator and he sure is not finished yet. Spikes will return for his senior season at UF and I know he is hungry for a third. Spikes defense is incredible. He is just like a magnet, where ever the ball is you can depend on Brandon to be there to make the play. He recorded two interceptions that were returned all the way back for touchdowns and they both were against top 25 teams. Spikes is no doubt one of the top linebackers in the country and will be a high NFL draft pick. Lets hope he has one final successful season at the University Of Florida.

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Gators Streak Ends At The Buzzer To South Carolina 70-69

Posted by admin on January 22nd, 2009   No Comment

After Chandler Parson’s missed free throw with just about 3 ticks left, the Gamecocks fired the ball down court to Zam Fredrick who layed the ball up with just about .03 seconds left on the clock which gave South Carolina the 70-69 SEC win and snapped Florida’s 10 game win streak.

Florida (16-3, 3-1) led by about 7 points with a few minutes left but let the Gamecocks come back. Devan Downey was a big factor in the game. Downey hit 4 huge free throws in a row and a three pointer with about 25 seconds left. Sophomore guard Nick Calathes led the Gators with 20 points, five assists and five rebounds. Following behind was Chandler Parsons with 14 points and nine boards. Senior guard Walter Hodge, Freshman guard Erving Walker, and Junior forward Dan Werner each tacked on 7 points a piece.

I am curious to see how Florida will respond after this heart breaking loss. Florida will have some time to get together and search for the little things they need to do in order to seal these kind of games up. Unfortunately this was not the night for Florida. Why put players on the free throw block when you have a one point lead? Billy made one bonehead mistake and you will not see him make this kind of mistake again. Florida should of had everybody back, but instead South Carolina gets a hail marry pass down court, burning Dan Werner for the winning layup. The Gators will be back in action on Sunday January 25th in Nashville to face off the Vanderbilt Commodores at 1:30pm. The Gators will be back in Gainesville on Wednesday January 28th to face Georgia at 8pm. These are two SEC games Florida needs to win and it sure would gain more confidence back after the USC loss.

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Tebow Removes Sling At Halftime

Posted by admin on January 22nd, 2009   2 Comments

Tim Tebow appeared at the Gator mens basketball game against Arkansas and gave a speech along with his teammates. Tim showed up with his right shoulder in a sling from the injury he sustained last season from taking a beating and he also aggravated it quit a bit later in this years successful championship season. Tebow had a bone spur removed from his non-throwing shoulder.

At the end of his speech, he alerted the fans to not be worried because he will be fine. Tebow then ripped off the sling and left with it hanging in his left hand. He is quite some character isn’t he? Does he love to play tricks on Gator nation or what? After the act he put on in the Swamp about him returning for his senior year and now ripping off his sling. Tebow will come off quick recovery from this surgery and should be back and throwing within a couple of weeks. Check the video out below.


Tim Tebow removes his sling from Alligator Online on Vimeo.

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Gators Hope To Ignore Last Years Downfall

Posted by admin on January 21st, 2009   No Comment

Last season for the Gators did not go as smooth as they wanted it to, but their is a change this season. Florida reached a point later in the season where they were in the top 25 and their record was 18-3 before the struggling began. Florida lost two SEC games in a row and then lost eight of the final eleven games of the season. Then up next was the SEC tournament which they failed but losing in the first round to Alabama. It did cost them making the big dance which they have not missed since 1998. The Gators appeared and the N.I.T which shocked alot of fans around the Nation but still, Florida was a very young team and still are which can be dangerous.

Florida will be playing on the road in another SEC game against the South Carolina Gamecocks and will be a strong test for the Gators. Yes they have beaten a few SEC teams and have shown they can play but as they continue playing these SEC games, they do not get any easier. They still yet have Tennessee and Kentucky to play as well and this road game will be an excellent test to how Florida can compete.

The Gators are currently on a 10 game winning streak and are ranked 24 in the AP poll. Florida has not been on this kind of streak since 2006 and 2007 which was a 15 game winning streak. So the next few weeks will show everybody where the Gators look right now in the picture. They have had those easy games at the beginning but don’t get me wrong all schools play but now is when the test starts. Florida’s next three of the four games will be road games and watch for the games against Tennessee and Kentucky to be televised. If the Gators continue to win these games on the road and put last seasons struggle behind, they will find success and hopefully find the doors to the NCAA tournament.

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Mens Basketball NO. 24 in AP Poll

Posted by admin on January 19th, 2009   No Comment

The new top 25 AP poll has been released and the Gators are listed as NO. 24. Florida has been playing excellent ball rather than they were the first part of the season.

Freshman guard Erving Walker is getting tougher and tougher as the season goes on. He is sort of compared to a Taurean Green kind of player. Walkers speed and his quickness really comes in handy and makes the defense alot easier. And the way Nick Calathes and Alex Tyus are playing right now, the Gators might continue to climb polls before the season creeps to a end.

The Gators are now 3-0 in SEC play and hope to continue the streak but they will need to get past the Gamecocks before thinking any further. I believe Florida has a shot at the NCAA tournament this year if they continue to play with this much enthusiasm they have been using towards their opponents. Freshman center Kenny Kadji is a spark of the bench. He plays with so much intensity and really is a boost for the Gators because we really have no “true” big men when Florida had Noah, Horford, and Richards. But bottom line is that if Florida continues to play like they are capable of playing and keep the SEC wins coming along, then look for the Gators to ride the rankings and move on up. The main SEC games they will need to get past are the Kentucky and Tennessee match ups. Two great ball clubs Florida yet has to face and will be huge wins if Florida can get passed them both.

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Gators Cruise Past Arkansas 80-65

Posted by admin on January 18th, 2009   1 Comment

The Gators sunk several three pointers in the second half which gave them the boost to get past Arkansas and improve to 3-0 in the SEC. The Gators were led by Nick Calathes with 28 points 10 rebounds and seven assists. What a night Calathes had. Nick was a big part of the three point shooting in the second half. Calathes made a career high six three pointers while hitting four of the six in the second half.

Florida shot 3 for 17 from long range in the first half and still led by three at halftime. The Razorbacks pounded on the Gators down low but they could not answer on Florida’s threes. Freshman guard Erving Walker put up 13 points and three from beyond the arc. Alex Tyus added 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. Sophomore forward Chandler Parsons and Freshman center Kenny Kadji both added 10 a piece.

Florida (16-2, 3-0) will be back in action for two SEC games, Playing at South Carolina on Wednesday at 7pm and then they will play at Vanderbilt on Sunday starting at 1:30 pm.

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Spikes Returning to Florida, Harvin Entering NFL Draft

Posted by admin on January 16th, 2009   No Comment

Junior linebacker Brandon Spikes has announced that he will remain for his final season at the university Of Florida but Percy Harvin has declared to enter the NFL draft.

Coach Meyer is glad to see Spikes return for his senior year and I’m sure every Gator fan in America is glad to. Florida will return all 11 starters on defense. Spikes said it was a tough decision to make. He had talked to his family before his decision and Spikes said he loves to play in front of the Gator fans. I believe it was the smart decision on Spike’s part. Not just earning his way into the draft next year, but he will also get his education which he will have something to look back on. Spikes led the defense with 93 tackles and 4 interceptions.

Harvin will leave Florida with a total of 133 catches for 1,929 yards and 13 touchdowns. He rushed the ball 194 times for 1,852 and 18 touchdowns. Harvin put up some great numbers for the years he put in and he will be missed. Florida will need to look ahead and find a replacement even though it will not be easy. Percy totaled 171 yards in the win over Oklahoma in the Fedex BCA championship.

The decision from Spikes is great but emotional on Harvin’s side. It has been great watching Harvin play in orange and blue, and we all wish him the best of luck. Maybe he will have the opportunity to stay and play for a team in Florida.

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Billy Donovan Earns 300th Win As Gators Defeat Auburn 68-65

Posted by admin on January 16th, 2009   No Comment

Head coach Billy Donovan earns his 300th career win at UF as Florida slides past Auburn 68-58. Florida who now is (15-2) overall and also improved to (2-0) in SEC play. The Gators were led by Sophomore Alex Tyus who had 14 points and 12 boards. Tyus also collected his third double-double of the year.

Freshman guard Erving Walker took a step forward late in the game sinking two jump shots when it was knotted up at 48-48. Nick Calathes led behind Tyus and Walker with 17 points and brought down nine boards. Walker finished with 9 points, Hodge with 5, and Dan Werner with 6. Freshman Kenny Kadji came off the bench with an 11 point performance. Kadji was the third Gator in double digit scoring.

The Gator are hoping to improve to 3-0 in the SEC as they host Arkansas on Saturday at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Tip-off will be held at 2pm.The game will be played on Raycom sports.

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